This course explores employee privacy from the perspective of the U.S. legal system. It is focused on the knowledge required to successfully (and legally) conduct internal investigations in today’s workplace.

Ideal audiences will include human resources professionals, frontline supervisors, department managers, corporate protection/security professionals, small business owners and private investigators. In fact, Internal Investigations: Employee Privacy will be of value to anyone tasked with monitoring workplace behaviors.

The course begins with a discussion of the importance of employee privacy and why compliance with guidelines is important to the enterprise. The Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 serves as the foundational legislation on the topic and is supplemented by various state laws.

The law generally recognizes the need to monitor employees while at work. Although organizations are given wide discretion, you will learn the importance of:

· Managing the privacy expectations of the workforce

· Limiting all monitoring/surveillance and internal investigations to business need.

The instructor also explains two special circumstances that can impact your monitoring efforts. These are:

· Communications related to labor organization (unions)

· Communications involving a company “whistleblower.”

Contemporary issues are covered in the context of employee privacy. These include the recording of conversations, reading emails, Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), remote workers, social media, and considerations for covert surveillance.

The physical search of desks, lockers and hand-carried items is outlined, as well as the importance of a well-drafted and legal privacy policy. The negative implications of a bad policy are also covered.

Finally, the course provides examples how an effective monitoring program can positively support business goals. These include:

· Measuring individual employee performance

· Evaluating customer service levels

· Supporting time and attendance (i.e. payroll)

· Mitigation of potential legal liability